Painting a classic ranch-style home: Tips and color inspiration

Tips for choosing colors for your ranch style home:

• Most importantly, consider the color of the roof.
• Assess the architectural features and materials of the home.
• Analyze the landscape and surroundings for complementary or contrasting colors.

Popular Color Palettes for Ranch-Style Homes:

Earthy Tones:

• Warm beige, tan, or sand for a classic ranch look.
• Rustic brown or terracotta accents add depth
• Soft sage or olive green for a serene, natural feel.
• Deep forest green for a more dramatic statement.
• Rich mustard or goldenrod for a pop of color on the window grids or front door.

Whites

• Warm ivory with black shutters (add a pop of color on the front door)
• Cool white with navy shutters
• Consider painting the window grids a contrasting color to add personality.

Blues:

• Soft sky blue or aqua for a refreshing and airy vibe.
• Navy blue or slate for a sophisticated and classic appeal.
• Consider painting the window grids black for a sophisticated look.

If your ranch home is partially or completely brick:

• Some ranch homes are partially or completely covered in brick.
• Painting all of the brick in one color can help tone down the “commercial” look of a brick home.
• Painting a partially brick home the same color as the clapboards can help with the visual overload.

Sampling paint colors for your ranch-style home:

• Sample paint colors on a small section of the exterior to test how they appear in different lighting conditions.  Live with the colors for a few days so you can see them at different times of the day.
• Using a designer or color specialist for personalized recommendations.

Maintenance and Longevity of paint on your ranch home:

• Choosing high-quality exterior paints that are durable and weather-resistant.
• Proper surface preparation and application techniques to ensure longevity.
• Regular maintenance, such as cleaning, touch-ups, and inspections, preserves the paint finish and protects the home from environmental damage.

About the author: Paige NeJame owns CertaPro Painters of the South Shore and contributes to national outlets on the subject of painting.